gate
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a creaking gate hangs longest
proverb Sick people often outlive healthy people. Oh, I wouldn't worry about Uncle Stu—he's been sick for years, and a creaking gate hangs longest. I can't believe Ed is really gone just six months after his cancer diagnosis. I guess that disproves the theory that a creaking gate hangs longest. Great-Aunt Mary is back in the hospital? Eh, I'm sure she's fine—a creaking gate hangs longest, after all.
be (the) first out (of) the gate
To be the first or earliest to do something. The company is poised to be the first out of the gate with a fully sentient, AI-controlled android. The team was the first out the gate to score, but their lead evaporated in a matter of minutes. This is very creative—you're going to be first out of the gate with an idea like that!
be given the gate
To be dismissed or spurned. I'm trying to sell these vacuums door to door, and I've been given the gate left and right! A: "Is he still being given the gate by publishers?" B: "Yep, he got his 25th rejection letter today." Ugh, no one takes my business proposal seriously! I've been given the gate by every possible investor so far.
crash the gate
To attend an event, such as a concert, sports match, or party, without being invited or paying to get in. That's way too much money to see them in concert, let's just crash the gate and see them on the sly! There's always a few who crash the gate at my party and end up causing trouble. Yeah, like you're really going to be able to crash the gate at a World Series game, when security is at its highest.
gatecrasher
One who attends an event, such as a concert, sports match, or party, without being invited or paying to get in. I don't mind gatecrashers coming to my parties, so long as they behave themselves. Due to the popularity of the show—and the limited amount of tickets—extra security was hired to keep any gatecrashers out of the concert. Those people are definitely gatecrashers, so please have one of the bouncers escort them off the premises.
get out of the gate(s) early
To take action in the early stages of some situation or process. This is a good idea, but you'll need to get out of the gate early with it if you want to get a foothold in the market. The team got out of the gates early, scoring two goals in the first 10 minutes of the game. Our team doesn't score a lot of runs, so we can't let the opponent get out of the gates early.
get the gate
To be dismissed or spurned. I'm trying to sell these vacuums door to door, and I'm getting the gate left and right! A: "Is he still getting the gate from publishers?" B: "Yep, he got his 25th rejection letter today." Ugh, no one takes my business proposal seriously! I've gotten the gate from every possible investor so far.
give (one) the (old) heave-ho
To dismiss or reject one. "Heave-ho" refers to the literal lifting and tossing of an object, used figuratively in this sense. I can't believe the boss gave me the old heave-ho after five years on the job! A: "Did you hear that Liz broke up with Dan?" B: "Wow, I never expected her to give him the heave-ho!" If I keep making stupid mistakes like this, my editor's going to give me the heave-ho!
See also: give
give (one) the brush-off
To reject, snub, ignore, or rebuff one. I thought Rebecca was a good friend until she gave me the brush-off at a party last weekend. Teachers have accused local politicians of giving them the brush-off regarding proposed cuts to pensions and school funding. Be honest and tell John that you're not interested in dating anymore—don't just give him the brush-off.
See also: give
give (someone) the gate
Primarily heard in UK.
1. To be fired from one's job. After messing up that account, I'm terrified that my boss is going to give me the gate. Management promptly gave the new accountant the gate after his miscalculation cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars. They'll give me the gate if they ever find out I came into work drunk.
2. To have a romantic relationship ended by one's partner. Susan is just devastated—Kelly gave her the gate a few days ago. Samantha has had a broken heart ever since David gave her the gate. A: "Did you hear that Liz gave Dan the gate?" B: "Wow, I never expected those two to break up."
late out of the gate
Slow to take action or start something. If we're late out of the gate introducing our new model of phone, we'll lose valuable time to our competitors. The country has been late out of the gate in adopting the policy, which is already commonplace across the rest of Europe.
like a bull at a gate
Very quickly and rashly; hastily, without careful thinking or planning. I only have a few hours before this essay is due, so I'm going at it like a bull at a gate. With only a few seconds left in the match, he started charging at his opponent like a bull at a gate out of desperation.
out (of) the (starting) gate
At or from the very starting position. Out the gate, the company's latest video game console has proven wildly popular. We're aiming to be the first one out of the gate with mixed-reality technology. I was a bit slow out of the starting gate to find what I wanted to study in college, but by my second year I felt really confident in my degree.
the gate
A rejection, dismissal, or refusal. Usually used after "get" or "give." I got the gate from the firm after I lost the Jefferson account. I thought our first few dates went really well, but she gave me the gate last night out of nowhere.
See also: gate
the Gates of Hell
1. Literally, the entrance to Hell, the place of eternal punishment as depicted in the Christian religion. The murderer's soul was brought by demonic spirits to the Gates of Hell.
2. Any entrance or portal to the underworld, the realm of the dead as depicted in various religious and mythological traditions that exists below the surface of the earth. It is believed that the thermal vent at the bottom of the crater is actually the Gates of Hell.
3. The most remote or inaccessible places on Earth; anywhere one needs to go to accomplish something. That no-good cheat robbed me of my inheritance, and I'll follow him to the Gates of Hell to get it back.
the pearly gates
The gates of heaven. The phrase originates from a passage about heaven in the book of Revelation. Sometimes capitalized. When I get to the pearly gates, I want Saint Peter to say, "Now the party can begin!"
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
creaking door hangs longest
and creaking gate hangs longestProv. Sickly people often live longer than healthy ones. Jill: I'm worried that my grandmother may not live much longer. She's been sick for so many years. Jane: Well, if it's any comfort, I've heard that a creaking door hangs longest.
get the gate
Inf. to be sent away; to be rejected. I thought he liked me, but I got the gate. I was afraid I'd get the gate, and I was right.
give someone the gate
Sl. to get rid of someone. The chick was a pest, so I gave her the gate. He threatened to give me the gate, so I left.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
crash the gate
Gain admittance, as to a party or concert, without being invited or without paying. For example, The concert was outdoors, but heavy security prevented anyone from crashing the gate. This term originally applied to persons getting through the gate at sports events without buying tickets. By the 1920s it was extended to being an uninvited guest at other gatherings and had given rise to the noun gatecrasher for one who did so. [Early 1900s]
give someone the air
Also, give someone the brush off or the gate or the old heave-ho . Break off relations with someone, oust someone, snub or jilt someone, especially a lover. For example, John was really upset when Mary gave him the air, or His old friends gave him the brush off, or Mary cried and cried when he gave her the gate, or The company gave him the old heave-ho after only a month. In the first expression, which dates from about 1920, giving air presumably alludes to being blown out. The second, from the first half of the 1900s, alludes to brushing away dust or lint. The third, from about 1900, uses gate in the sense of "an exit." The fourth alludes to the act of heaving a person out, and is sometimes used to mean "to fire someone from a job" (see get the ax). All these are colloquialisms, and all have variations using get, get the air (etc.), meaning "to be snubbed or told to leave," as in After he got the brush off, he didn't know what to do.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
get the gate
AMERICANIf someone gets the gate, they are sent away or told that they are not wanted. He was replaced for a time by the respected Emanuel Steward, who also eventually got the gate. Note: You can also say that someone is given the gate. Both competitors were given the gate for breaking the rules.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
like a bull at a gate
hastily and without thought.get (or be given) the gate
be dismissed from a job. North American informalFarlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
the ˌPearly ˈGates
(humorous) the gates of heaven: What’s going to happen when I get to those Pearly Gates? Have I lead a good life?Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
the gate
n. a forced exit; sending (someone) away. (see also give someone the gate.) I could see in his eyes that it was the gate for me.
See also: gate
give someone the gate
tv. to get rid of someone. The chick was a pest, so I gave her the gate.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
get the gate
Slang To be dismissed or rejected.
give (someone) the gate
Slang1. To discharge from a job.
2. To reject or jilt.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.